Automatic steam shut-off



'Jan.22,' :1929.

` C. L. NICHOLS AUTOMATIC STEAM SHUT-OFF Filed Nov. 30, 1927 2. Sheets-Sheet Jan. 22, 1929.

C. L. NICHOLS AUTOMATIC STEAM SHUT-OFF Filed Nov. 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented dan. 22, i929.

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Application nieu November 30, 1927. Serial No. 236,814.

This .invention has reference to locomotives or steam engines, and aims to provide novel means tor automatically cutting oil the steam in the main steain line that supplies the coaches ot the train coupled with the locoinotive with steani. Y

.ein important object ot the invention is to provide means whereby a control valve vvill he actuated should the engine or locomotive leave the track or turn over, or should a rear end collision occur.

lilith the 'foregoing` and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the coin bination and arrangement ot parte and in the details of construction hereinatter described and claimed, it beingl understood that changes in the precise embodiment et the in vention herein disclosed, may he inade Within the scope of what is claimed, Without departina` from the spirit ot the invention.

ll-eterringto the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional vievv through an engine cab illustrating a device Constructeid in accordance With the invention as installed therein.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional vievv through the cab.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the housing' in which the valve control rod moves.

lietei'rine to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the boiler oi' the` locomotive, the saine being supplied with the usual steain doine G, into which the main or suppl;T pipe i entends.

The pipe 7 is connected with the pipe 8 by nleans ot the elbovv 9, the pipe 8 being connected With the vertical pipe 10 by means oit the elbow 1l.

@trapped to the pipe 8, is a valve cylinder 12 in which the piston 13 operates, the piston ,lf3 being' connected With the valve arm 14, through the niediunl et the valve link 15, the lover l--t being connected With the valve 1G in such a Wav that movement ot the piston 'lll will result in a relative movement of the arin and valve to open or close the pipe line 8.

The reference character 1T designates a LFeed pipe that establishes communication be tween the pipe 7 and cylinder 12, there being provided a valve 18 tor controlling the passage ot steain through the pipe 17. An arm 19 connects with the valve, which arin in turn connects with the movable bar 20, which also has connection vvith arms 21, 22 and 23, all

of which connect-With valves for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

'lhe pipe 24 connects With the opposite end ot the cylinder 12 and also connects with the pipe 8 to supply steam to the opposite end of the cylinder 12. llt one end ot the bar 2G is la hell crank lever 25 to which the vertical rod 26 is connected, there being provided a transverse bar 2? carried at the upper end ol the rod 26.

This bar 27 ope ates Within' the housing 28 that is provided -vvith an upstanding portion 29 termed vvith segments 30, the ends ot the segments being spaced apartso that When the housing is rotated, to bring the bar 27 over the spaces between the seg1nents,the bar lwill nieve downwardly to operate the `valves connected with the valve arins 19, 21, 22 and 23.

This action ot' the valve arm is accomplished by the movement et the bar 20 which supports a coiledspring 3l at one end thereof, the coiled springbeing normally under tension to nieve the bar 20 When the housing 28 is inoved to release'the bar 27.

The housing 28 is mounted at the lower end oi the rod 32 which in turn is mounted in the bracket 33, and as shown, this rod carries a disk 34. Aetuating rods eX- tend` laterally from the disk 34; and have pivotal connection with the disk in such a Way that inward movement oit the rods 35 will produce a rotary movement of the housing,T 28 to release the bar 27.

Extending through the 'forward portion oi the cab is a rod 3G Which also has pivotal connection with the disk 3a so that should this rod 36 be pushed rearwardly, the disk 34 Will be operated to rotate the rod 32 and consequently niove the housing 28 in a manner as described.

Extending rearwardly from the cab is a rod 37 that also connects `with disk 5d to nuove the disk when inward pressure is brought to bear` thereon. Mounted on the outer end ot each rod is a curved contact ineinber 3S that presen-ts a substantially broad surface for Contact `with an object to actuate the rods, should the locomotive leave the rails and turn over.

Connected with the under side of the disk 34 is an actuating rod 39 that connects with the bell crank lever l() that in turn connects with the rod 41 that is mounted on the feed pipe 42, with the result that when the rod 41 is pushed towards the pipe 4t2, the bell crank lever 40 will be operated to move the disk 34: in a manner as described, which in turn operates the valve.

` The pipe 10" extends into the steam chest 43 through which the steam passes to the various steam pipes of a locomotive or cars connected with the locomotive.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that should a train or locomotive equipped with a device constructed in accordance with the in vvention turn over on its side, one of the bars will be pushed inwardly operating the housing 28 torelease the bar 27, permitting the valve 31 to act-nate the rod 20, moving the valves to allow steanrto passinto the cylinder 12. 1

It follows that as the steam enters the cylinder 12 the piston 13 is moved rearwardly, operating the valve 16 through the link 15, and arm 14, and cutting oft the steam to the supply pipe. Should a rear end collision occur,`it is obvious that the rod 41 will be `forced inwardly operating the housing and valves in a similar manner to cut off the supply of steam.

I claim:

1. In combination with the main steam supply pipe of a locomotive, a. valve for controlling the passage of steam through the steam pipe, rods extending from the locomotive, a disk to which the rods are connected, said rods adapted to rotate the disk When the rods are pressed inwardly, and means con trolled by the movement of the disk for operating the valve to eut off the passage of steam through the main steam supply pipe.

2. In combination with the main steam supply pipe of a locomotive, a valve for controlling the passage of steam through the main steam supply pipe, a rod supported within the cab of the locomotive, a disk carried by the rod, a housing at the lower end of the rod and having openings, a rod carrying a bar at its upper end positioned Within the housing, said housing adapted to move to bring theopenings thereof directly under the bar, means for moving the last mentionedrod and simultaneously operating a valve to actuate the first mentioned valve, and rods connected with the disk for rotatingr the disk.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixed my signature.

GLYDE LEE NICHOLS. 

